Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
POOR LITTLE MARGARET

1UUR LILLE vi ARUAREI
Mr.. Vance Vanceleigh enjoyed the
reputation of being the best-looking
and the best-dressed man in New
York, and naturally was o great IA
vorite with young ladies of society.
He had firted with the bellies of five
seasons, and few indeed were the fe-
male hearts that could resist the spell
of his brown eyes and handsome
face.
But one of Mr.. Vanceleigh's firta-
tons had turned out seriously. He
had won the affections of little Fay
Maybrooks and then cruelty deserted
her, and the girl had pinned away and
died.
1t was necessary, therefore, that he
should keep out of sight for awhile
until society might forget the share he
had in the poor girls death. He went
down to the sea-shOre and obtained
board in a fisherman's family in a re-
mote out-of-the-way place, where few
travellers ever came.
Old Peter Carne, the host, was the
father of six tall sons and three daugh-
tiers. A strong, healthy-looking fam
lily, who had been brought up to do
hard work and earn their own
living.
The girls were bright-eyed and rosy
checked. Margaret was just Is, Grace
20 and dark-bl owed, Judith 81.
Vanceleigh, fresh from the scene of
his peridy, took very little notice of
the youngest daughter, and, as for the
other girls, they proved impervious to
his chances, but secretly he was watch
lg Margaret.
After supper was over on the night
| question, Vance Vanceleigh strolled
ut to corner of the garden over
looking the sea.
A little rustic bench stood in the
shadow of the vines, and was at pres
ent occupied by two very usual OBJ
jects in country life-a fat, black kit
ten, between whose mischievous paws
lay ball of blue, homemade yarn
and a partially-fnished sock, from
extract one of the shining knitting
needles, and which, satisfied with its
performance, now lay blinking lazily
at Mr.. Vanceleigh, who, putting at his
cigar, came to the rescue of the sock,
and had just succeeded in detaching
the yarn from the tenacious claws of
the kitten, when the owner of the
damaged work appeared and proved
to be Margaret, but no longer the 81
lent shy creature of a few minutes
before.
Her brown eyes did not fall before
the welcoming chances of his, but re-
turned the glance with one to the full
as tender.
The sock fell to the ground, and
taking her little hand in his he drew
her down to the rustic seat.
Come at last, Margaret, he said,
tenderly stroking the short, child-like
hair and smiling one of his dangerous
smiles into her eyes.
A gentle and melancholy wind
FRED the vine leaves, and the fates
med indeed propitious for the ia
able display of Mr.. Vanceleigh's
orite accomplishment of filtration.
IT. Vanceleigh did not possess any
nsiderable share of courage, and he
.eld a very just and well-grounded
idea that the Carne family would
probably fiercely resent what he men
tally termed his ''pour passer lie
temps" intercourse with Margaret.
OF course, it was nothing more. Be-
fore the fields of grain yonder were
ripe for the harvest they would have
parted, assuredly, forever; and while
dim visions of more than elysian hap
piness were floating before the eyes of
the happy girl, as she leaned silently
against her lovers arm, he was vague
ly specializing as to how she would
"take" his contemplated desertion.
If a vision of a certain little mound
in Greenwood rose before him 1t con-
veyed no warning, and implanted no
single thrill of compunction in his
breast concerning his present occu-
patton.
Presently he reused himself from his
speculative mood, and in a low voice
began to sing to her some graceful,
thrilling verses of his own, which mu-
sically enough rang the changes on
her own name. He had a certain Gift
of this kind, which he found a valua-
bic auxiliary indeed in his favorite
pursuit.
s'You like my name, then?" sai6
Margaret, when the song was ended,
He smiled down into her eyes, and
quoted:
J. al toujours sur mon coeur ecrite
lie nom 81 douX de Marguerite.
and laughed lightly at the puzzled iool
in the hazel eyes which sought the in
depreciation in his.
"A free translation of which, m.
pretty bird, is:
Forever in my heart is set
The sweetest name of Marguerite.
Forever" echoed Margaret, with
certain wistfulness in her voice. xvii
you love my name and me forev